DIY Napkins (That Double As Place Cards!)

Looking to add some personalized touches to your wedding reception? Place cards are a great way to do that. With so many options out there—from simple tented cards to wedding favors that also function as place cards—it might be hard to narrow it down to just one choice. To help, I wanted to share one of my favorite place-card ideas, and it’s something I’ve done for my own dinner parties. There are several different ways you can execute them to match the style of your table, so read on to see how to quickly and easily create your own!

1. Fold your napkin as you’d like it to sit on the table. While folded, lightly trace the name of your guest with pencil on the bottom of the napkin (or on the top if you want his or her name to peek out above the plate).

2. Start lightly painting over your pencil tracing. Go back and fill in the lines with a heavier stroke.

3. Repeat for each guest. If you aren’t confident about hand-lettering the names, there are a few different alternatives: You can print out each name in a fun font, place the printout beneath your napkin and trace; or, you can purchase alphabet rubber stamps, apply a thin layer of paint to the stamps, and apply to the napkin.

Place the napkin beneath each plate and let the name hang off the side (so guests can easily find their seat!).